"Why is Altera coming out from there...?"
"Se, Saber...?"
"... The assault woman summoned me. Don't tell me, you're wooing another woman, Fergus. I know, it's not intentional. But still, I can't help but think Fergus is Fergus... I'm having the third dream, and I never thought the last dream would be like this."
What, the third dream of the holy sword return? So it's before becoming a goddess?
"Is that so..."
Bang!
Following that, someone rushed into the room.
"As I thought... I had a vague memory, so I was summoned in my lifetime in a singularity."
".... Could it be, me? But the body shape is completely different...?"
"That's right. I am your future self. I never knew I'd grow up this well. It must have been the problem with Caliburn and the holy sword."
"Hoh... hoh..."
Altera, observing the future version of herself while circling around Artoria who had barged in.
Especially, she was looking at her chest.
"Indeed... it's really me. To grow this much. Well, looking at my sister, my body shape doesn't make sense..."
"If you stare too hard, it's a bit embarrassing..."
"Is that so, I see... Do I really grow this big? With this, it's more than the assault woman... no, it might be the biggest among the wives...?"
"Objectively speaking, that's actually true."
"Hoh..."
It's true that it's the biggest. Altera grins while looking at her future self...
"Hah... haha... hahahahaha..."
"Was I like this in the past...?"
"Roughly, yes..."
Altera making a sinister smile. Is she imagining something fun? Like imagining her grown self hugging me while laughing at others.
I shouldn't think it's possible. But, in terms of growth, everyone has either a reverse transformation or grew up well. For reverse transformation, there's me or Iskandar. For growing up well, there's Artoria or... Camilla.
"Well, it's reassuring for the future... So, I live and reunite with Fergus? Then, am I the seventh living wife?"
"Manaka is already there."
"Tch... Then the eighth. Whatever~ Since it's a singularity, I probably won't remember, but it's good to know... Then, shall I see? The strength of my future self."
"Are we fighting...?"
"Of course. Right now, I am an enemy. Moreover, seeing you two together like this, there's no need to follow. So, I want to see the power of my future self."
Altera shines her black holy sword and makes a vicious smile. Artoria also seems to be provoked, taking out her holy spear. The two start fighting without preamble, and I leave the room.
"Suddenly, it's a brawl..."
"Haha, indeed..."
First, Camilla who came out with me. She seems to have lingering feelings for me...
"I'm sorry about this. Since I have my own daughters, taking you with me seems unreasonable. There are people in the current party who aren't accepted and are causing trouble... I understand your feelings, but I apologize."
"... I've been rejected, haven't I."
"..."
Camilla makes a sad expression. I usually accept to avoid seeing this, but... now, it would be like throwing oil on a fire. With Báthory there too, it would be a mess. Well... I wonder if I can take singularity Servants?
"Even though we're enemies, I won't fight. After all, this battle is our complete victory. Look over there."
In the sky, golden bombardments and magecraft are fired, demon pillars appear, and a giant flame rises. Then, the blue light of Balmung...
It's a battle that can't be lost.
"Then, I'll be going. You should go rest somewhere too."
"..."
She looks at me with a faint expression, but... I leave her behind and head down to the battlefield. Jumping into the hole in the collapsed floor, I arrive at the corridor on the first floor. The battle is... pretty much over now.
Except for the black Jeanne, all are dead. I honestly wanted to apologize to Atalanta... It's a pity. No, actually, I'm still considered a child, so in reality, I liked it, wasn't that the development?
Gilles's sea demons and the giant octopus monster were easily handled. The clairvoyants are properly working because of the guess I made, so there was nothing much. The strongest, Martha Alter, is... already dead and retreating.
It ended too quickly? The time going back and forth took longer, didn't it?
No, this is right... How could they win against the proper Hero King and Mage King?
"Haa... haa..."
Even the real mastermind, Gilles, is dead, leaving only the black Jeanne alone. Camilla is also there, but she doesn't seem to intend to come.
"Don't make me laugh... Do you think I'll lose here...!? I'll never hand over the Holy Grail!"
[He's incredibly tenacious. Indeed, without defeating her, she has no intention of surrendering. The Holy Grail can be felt from her. We must defeat her.]
"Half right, half wrong."
I said while walking to where everyone is. She is a copy of Jeanne made by the Holy Grail... If she dies, that's the end. Normally, that is... becoming a Servant as an Avenger? That's also a possibility of a miracle. With the butterfly effect I have, there's no guarantee it will happen. Actually, her future is blurry to my eyes.
"She herself is the Holy Grail."
"What, did you say...?"
Everyone is a bit surprised, and those who already know, like the clairvoyants, have no particular reaction. Umin especially shows no interest. She caught Deon alone. As expected of an immortal, she's strong. For a modern Servant with Strength A, she's quite strong.
"You were the most surprised, right? Jeanne Alter. A reverse side of a saint originally cannot exist. Right? Georgios."
"That's correct. That's why I was surprised when I saw Martha, but upon learning it was due to a demon pillar, I understood immediately. If spiritual power is twisted in that way, it might be possible, but at least it's not one's own reverse... Generally, it's impossible."
"Yes. Some might know. That Jeanne can be altered... However, that's also due to Artorium that twists spiritual power. At least, it's not a normal case. Then, did Gilles twist her spiritual power? No, even with the Holy Grail, it's difficult. Gilles used the Holy Grail to create Jeanne Alter... Jeanne who exists as a witch."
"That's... I definitely thought I was just me..."
"It's understandable, Jeanne. You've experienced alteration. But, it's not a normal case... Then, do you understand? Jeanne Alter."
"..... Lies."
"It's not a lie. Then, do you have memories before meeting Gilles? From your lifetime. The time spent with family in Domrémy, do you remember?"
"... Lies, no... no...!"
"...."
As expected, it's an identity collapse... It's understandable. The moment one's identity is denied, anyone would react that way.
"Hey, Fergus──"
"Believe in your father, Ritsuka."
"That's right, father isn't that kind of person, so don't worry."
Ritsuka thought I might be making her self-destruct and tried to say it's not like that, but Uathach and Connla stop her.
"You still don't know much about Berserkers? Even though she denies it, she's the most heroic person."
"The most, heroic person..."
I reach out my hand to the black Jeanne.
"How about it? Will you come with us?"
"What, did you say...?"
"I don't think you're fake. There are many like you. Homunculi are like that. They have the same origin, essentially clones. Yet, they are humans with different selves and thoughts. Right? Illya."
"Well, that's true."
"She is a homunculus child, originally a vessel for the Holy Grail. In another world, I helped a homunculus boy, and also embraced a clone of my wife with love. They were all people with distinct, separate selves. It's true that you were created by the Holy Grail... but humans are also created in the womb. You or homunculi, just the place of creation is different. You are human. How about it? As a human named you, do you want to live? The opportunity is only now."
"....."
"If you refuse, it's cruel, but I'll just take the Holy Grail and leave. Even if you live, when the singularity is restored, you'll disappear. Forever."
"What is that... It's practically blackmail."
"Haha. So, do you dislike it?"
"... Fine, I'll go... I'll go, right. I also want to live..."
She takes my hand, and it seems our interests align well.
"Well, it ended peacefully, right?"
"So that's how you woo women..."
"Se, senpai!"
"... When we return, no food for you, Ritsuka."
"Eeh!?"
That's too harsh... Did it look like wooing? Too harsh...
As if the fight with Altera is over, Artoria comes too.
[Then... since the Holy Grail is also retrieved, the singularity is to be restored... Good work, everyone.]
"Hey, Romani? I have a question, are there any restrictions on bringing Servants from a singularity?"
[Ah, right... Only one can be brought back.]
""!?""
[Sorry. But... it's not just Rayshift, but a mechanical system limitation. Bringing spiritual power at the Servant level is already a strain.]
I see... So that's why Servants going to Chaldea after a singularity are limited.
"If it's a mechanical problem, then it's impossible."
"I'm also ignorant about machines... impossible."
"Me too~"
The clairvoyants also seem genuinely impossible. They don't use machines in the first place. Merlin... only uses computers a bit.
"There! It's my time!"
Nero extends her hand and declares proudly. I also thought, there's independent manifestation.
"With my independent manifestation, I can follow master! However, even with all my power, two is about the limit!"
"Then that means..."
"Hmm, with Rayshift, we can take that Altera, and I can take care of Uathach and Connla, right?"
I look at Jeanne, but she has no particular reaction.
"Hey, is it okay...?"
Olga Marie cautiously asks Jeanne...
"Huh? Ah, that... I wasn't planning to go. In the first place, Fergus can summon me with his Noble Phantasm, and somehow my spiritual power was incomplete, which was due to what Gilles did with the Holy Grail... So even if I go, I won't be able to use my power properly."
"I'm sorry. Even as a goddess, I can only go alone..."
"Even for me, two is very strenuous!"
Everyone is regretful about Jeanne staying, but it's true that Jeanne's spiritual power is incomplete and that I can summon her with my Noble Phantasm. When we return to Chaldea, I should summon Artoria and Jeanne, if not all.
If I summon all, Chaldea would be a mess. Hmm...
[Then, I'll start Rayshift!]
We say goodbye to the remaining French Servants, and Báthory clings to me until the end asking to be an idol, but... we part ways and return to Chaldea.
"Everyone, good work!"
Romani, da Vinci, and the staff set off fireworks and congratulate us.
"... Yes, everyone did well! Singularity restoration completed safely!"
Olga Marie also declares mission completion with a smile, watching the first singularity disappear from the map. Finally, it's over.... Artoria and Nero also safely arrive in Chaldea.
"Hmm... Somehow, my head hurts a lot... With two, it shouldn't be this burdensome...?"
"Huh?"
Uathach and Connla also arrived safely, but Nero staggers complaining of a headache. Something... on her back...
"Fufu, thank you, Emperor."
"".... Kiyohime!?""
"No, how did you follow?"
Kiyohime, who had made her body as small as a doll and stuck to Nero's back. Did she use transformation...? And she returns to her original size.
"You, because of you, I have a headache after a long time..."
"Sigh..."
So Kiyohime came too...
First, I summon Jeanne and Artoria with my Noble Phantasm. Suddenly, my body feels tired... This Noble Phantasm definitely consumes a lot of magical energy.
"This place is...? Just now, I was fighting as Altera with my future self, it seems..."
"Hmm... No problem with memory. This is Chaldea, right?"
Both are summoned safely, and Nero complains of a headache and leans on me. First, I should take her to a room and let her lie down. I ask for understanding and take Nero to an empty room. Any room will do.
"Here, rest for now. Shall I kill you or something?"
"No, it's fine... I think a special medicine would work..."
"Medicine? Then from the infirmary..."
"No... I want to drink the white elixir that comes from your lower half."
"...."
Then, as if it was all an act until now, Nero grins and grabs my wrist. Creepy acting...
"Are you serious about that?"
"Hmm?"
"Nero..."
"Can you handle it...?"
"... I wish you would do it."